Post driver



Oct. 18,1927. c B MURTON 39 POST DRIVER Filed Sept. 6, 1923 J ZYUG/W' (r awfard WMVBH/ yga Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CRAWFORD B. MURTON, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS. ILLINOIS, ABSIGNOR TO INLAND STEEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

POST DRIVER.

Application filed Septemb r 6, 1823. Serial No. 681,214.

My invention relates todrivers for fence posts and the like. it consists of a sleeve adapted to fit. loosely over the post and a weight in the upper end to serve as a driver. The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for fastening the weight to the sleeve.

I accomplish my object in the manner 1 1- lustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a: general perspective view showing the manner of using the device;

Figure 2 is a vertical section showing the driver in acting position on a post;

Figures 3 to 6 show successive steps 1n the process of manufacture. Figure 3 shows the weight before receiving the circumferential groove. Figure 4 shows it after recciving such groove. Figure 5 shows the grooved weight in osition in the sleeve before the latter is clrcumferentially grooved and Figure 6 shows the sleeve grooved and the device completed.

Like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views.

The device is intended for driving into the ground such posts as that marked 1, Figures 1 and 2. Of course, the particular t pe or form of post is not essential. The

evice itself consists of a sleeve 2 which may appropriately be an ordinary 2 inch pipe cut to a length of 30 inches. hese dimensions may of course be varied. It is desirable that the mouth of the sleeve be internally beveled as at 4, so it may be more readily slipped over the top of the post and to avoid catching on projections on the post, if any there be.

The weight 5 is of proper size to fit fairly snugly within the sleeve. It may he formed of a 2 inch piece of cold rolled steel about 4 or 5 inches long although the kind of material and the length may be varied.

Post drivers or driving caps of this gen eral type are not new, but heretofore it has required a good many operations to fasten the wei ht in the sleeve. If rivets are employed. oth the sleeve and the weight must be drilled and usually at least two rivets are necessary. Then the rivets must have their ends riveted. This not only is an expensive way to accomplish the purpose, but constant jarring tends to crystallize the rivets and cause them to shear oti'. Also if the work is not very carefully done, the rivet heads are apt to injure the hands of the user. According to my invention, after the weight has been cut to length, as in Figure 3, a cireumferential groove 6 is formed in it as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The depth of the groove is approximately equal to the thickness of the metal of the sleeve, thus ensuring that the parts will not become loosened and separated as a result of the constant jarring arising from the use of the device. The weight is then inserted into the sleeve with its upper end flush with the upper end of the sleeve. The sleeve is then heated and the metal of the sleeve forced snugly into the groove into the weight as shown in Figure 6. This may be done by a rolling process and the groove 7 will then he circumferential.

A post driver constructed in this manner is practically indestructible. There are no rivets or other fastening devices to shear off and the configuration of the metal is such that the sleeve will withstand more jarrring than any person can possibly subject it to. There are no rivet heads to hurt the hands of the user and no separate pieces required for fastening the parts together. The operations of grooving the weight and the sleeve are simple and inexpensive and the result is that a highly etlicient article is produced at a minimum cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. A post driver comprising a sleeve and a weight in the upper end of the sleeve, the weight having a deep annular recess in the side and the metal of the sleeve being deformed to enter said recess.

2. A post driver comprising a sleeve and a weight in the upper. end thereof, the weight having a circumferential groove, and

the sleeve having a circumferential depression seating in said groove, the depth of the groove being approximately equal to the thickness of the metal of the sleeve.

3. A post driver comprising a sleeve and a weight within said sleeve at the upper end, the weight having a circumferential groove substantially as deep as the thickness of the metal of the sleeve, and the sleeve having a deformation seating in said groove whereby having an annular groove, and the metal of the weight and the sleeve may be used as a the sleeve being deformed to seat in said 0st driver, and the metal of the sleeve may groove. 1 e solely relied upon to hold the parts to- In Witness whereof, I have hereunto sub 5 gether in profer relation. scribed my name. 4. A post river comprising a sleeve and a weight housed within the sleeve, the weight CRAWFORD B. MURTON. 

